Under Pressure: Project Physics

The deadline isn’t moving, but you’re not getting the work done. The mass stays the same, but the volume is decreasing. Density (and therefore pressure) increases.
The only way to alleviate the pressure is to change one of the two variables: the amount of work or the deadline.

When the project scope changes, the mass changes. Every day that creeps toward a firm deadline decreases the volume.

If you’re really smart, you’ll charge based on pressure: amount of work vs. the amount of time.
This brings us to my favorite standby—fast, good, cheap: pick any two. Ultimately, these factors equate to quality, time, and price. Find out what’s most important at the beginning (and your quality is less variable than you realize) and adjust accordingly.